Habanos Festival Returns to Cuba

The 15th annual Habanos Festival, the gathering of Cuban cigarmakers, distributors, retailers and aficionados from around the world, will run from February 25 to March 3. The event will feature previews of new Cuban cigars that will be heading to market later in the year.

Last year saw the unveiling of the Montecristo 520, the only one of three Edición Limitadas showcased at the Festival; the massive and eminentlydelicious Cuaba Bariay, released as one of the limited Cuban “book editions” and two new Romeo y Julietas, the regular-production Romeo y Julieta Petit Churchill and the premium priced Romeo y Julieta Churchill Reserva Cosecha 2008.

This year’s weeklong event—which ends on a Saturday night, rather than the typical Friday night—will feature evenings dedicated to two of Cuba’s most famous cigar brands, Montecristo and Partagás, and will conclude with a gala dinner for more than 1,000 guests and a charity auction of large humidors filled with cigars, including rarities produced expressly for the humidors. The benefits of the auction go to the Cuban healthcare system.

Cigar Aficionado’s Gordon Mott and David Savona will be in Havana covering the Festival. You can follow along via their blogs here at www.cigaraficionado.com.